The Giver by Lois Lowry
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Avg rating: 4.11
Goodreads Summary:
Jonas's world is perfect. Everything is under control. There is no war or fear or pain. There are no choices. Every person is assigned a role in the Community. When Jonas turns twelve, he is singled out to receive special training from The Giver. The Giver alone holds the memories of the true pain and pleasure of life. Now, it is time for Jonas to receive the truth. There is no turning back.
Actual Rating: 4.5
Dystopian perfection! This book reminded me why I love Dystopian Fiction SO much. It was nice to get away from the paranormal and fantasy stuff and read this straight forward, created world type of setting.
I like Jonah and his little sister and I really liked the rituals aspect of the story.
I thought it was kinda odd how willing the Giver was to "rebel" because like why didn't any of the givers from back and back and back come to that conclusion?
I also thought the ending was a little... lacking. I get that it prepares you for book two but it was less of a cliffhanger and more of an open ended possibility.
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Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Avg rating: 3.86
Goodreads Summary:
This is the story of Paul, a sophomore at a high school like no other: The cheerleaders ride Harleys, the homecoming queen used to be a guy named Daryl (she now prefers Infinite Darlene and is also the star quarterback), and the gay-straight alliance was formed to help the straight kids learn how to dance.
When Paul meets Noah, he thinks he’s found the one his heart is made for. Until he blows it. The school bookie says the odds are 12-to-1 against him getting Noah back, but Paul’s not giving up without playing his love really loud. His best friend Joni might be drifting away, his other best friend Tony might be dealing with ultra-religious parents, and his ex-boyfriend Kyle might not be going away anytime soon, but sometimes everything needs to fall apart before it can really fit together right.
This is a happy-meaningful romantic comedy about finding love, losing love, and doing what it takes to get love back in a crazy-wonderful world.
Actual Rating: 3.7
At first I gave this book 4 stars but I think I've decided it really only deserves three.
David Levithan is great at what he does. He shines light on kids with less than normal sexuality and attempts to make them . It was a fun, easy read. Nothing too deep or earth shattering.
The characters were spunky and fun and the romance aspect was cute.
The highschool DL created was crazy! They have hundreds of clubs and groups and tons and tons of students so it was weird to read about how everyone knew everything that was going on with each other.
It was little far fetched as far as realisticness (is that a word?) goes but it was still a fun read.
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The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Avg rating: 4.06
Goodreads Summary:
Discovered in the attic in which she spent the last years of her life, Anne Frank's remarkable diary has since become a world classic—a powerful reminder of the horrors of war and an eloquent testament to the human spirit.
In 1942, with Nazis occupying Holland, a thirteen-year-old Jewish girl and her family fled their home in Amsterdam and went into hiding. For the next two years, until their whereabouts were betrayed to the Gestapo, they and another family lived cloistered in the "Secret Annexe" of an old office building. Cut off from the outside world, they faced hunger, boredom, the constant cruelties of living in confined quarters, and the ever-present threat of discovery and death.
In her diary Anne Frank recorded vivid impressions of her experiences during this period. By turns thoughtful, moving, and amusing, her account offers a fascinating commentary on human courage and frailty and a compelling self-portrait of a sensitive and spirited young woman whose promise was tragically cut short.
Actual Rating: 4.5
LOVEloveLOVE
How could you give this book any less than 5 stars and still sleep at night? What an amazing little girl!
I liked this cause it was an easy read (diary format, written by a 13 year old) but full of pretty serious scary grown up subject material.
I loved the "afterword" part where you could see how each character in the book's life played out..
Obviously I hate Hitler and all the German's serving in his army and I was so sad about Anne even though I knew it was coming :(
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Blue Bloods by Melissa de la Cruz
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Avg rating: 3.68
Goodreads Summary:
When the Mayflower set sail in 1620, it carried on board the men and women who would shape America: Miles Standish; John Alden; Constance Hopkins. But some among the Pilgrims were not pure of heart; they were not escaping religious persecution. Indeed, they were not even human. They were vampires.The vampires assimilated quickly into the New World. Rising to levels of enormous power, wealth, and influence, they were the celebrated blue bloods of American society.
The Blue Bloods vowed that their immortal status would remain a closely guarded secret. And they kept that secret for centuries. But now, in New York City, the secret is seeping out. Schuyler Van Alen is a sophomore at a prestigious private school. She prefers baggy, vintage clothes instead of the Prada and pearls worn by her classmates, and she lives with her reclusive grandmother in a dilapated mansion. Schuyler is a loner...and happy that way. Suddenly, when she turns fifteen, there is a visible mosaic of blue veins on her arm. She starts to crave raw food and she is having flashbacks to ancient times. Then a popular girl from her school is found dead... drained of all her blood. Schuyler doesn't know what to think, but she wants to find out the secrets the Blue Bloods are keeping. But is she herself in danger?
Actual Rating: 3.1
I know people say that all vampire books are the same but they really aren't. I was excited to read a new vampire series and see what quirks and twists this one had to offer.
I was a bit let down. It was a slow paced book with a lot of "history" to understand and think about.
It did pick up after the half way mark but it never got "page flipping" good where I couldn't put it down.
The names were terrible too! I hate reading a book where I have to continually pronounce stupid names in my head. It's a big deal!
Anyways, I've heard the others in the series are better so I might check them out sometime down the road. I obviously ship Schyeuler & Jack and Dylan and Bliss
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Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Avg rating: 4.47
Goodreads Summary:
The heart-stopping conclusion to the New York Times bestselling Shatter Me series, which Ransom Riggs, bestselling author of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, called “a thrilling, high-stakes saga of self-discovery and forbidden love.”
With Omega Point destroyed, Juliette doesn’t know if the rebels, her friends, or even Adam are alive. But that won’t keep her from trying to take down The Reestablishment once and for all. Now she must rely on Warner, the handsome commander of Sector 45. The one person she never thought she could trust. The same person who saved her life. He promises to help Juliette master her powers and save their dying world . . . but that’s not all he wants with her.
The Shatter Me series is perfect for fans who crave action-packed young adult novels with tantalizing romance like Divergent by Veronica Roth, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, and Legend by Marie Lu. Tahereh Mafi has created a captivating and original story that combines the best of dystopian and paranormal, and was praised by Publishers Weekly as “a gripping read from an author who’s not afraid to take risks.” Now this final book brings the series to a shocking and satisfying end.
My Rating: 5.0
On a scale of 1-5 I would give this book a 6.. Or HIGHER!
From the very first page to the very last line this book was perfect.. Honestly I can't imagine the story going any different.. I fell in love with Warner every more after every incident.. after every nightly encounter.. after every conversation.
I'm so proud of who Juliette has become and I've enjoyed watching her blossom into this strong, level headed, all powerful young woman.
Let's not forget the writing style and how unfathomably talented Tahereh Mafi is.. The lines flow off the paper and sing to my heart and soul and I'm like a sponge soaking up her words and thoughts and characters. Every single character in this series has grown and progressed, flux and flow, up and down and all around.
Tahereh has made me a fan for life, I will read EVERY thing she ever writes and I will re-read the Shatter Me series start to finish for many years to come.
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